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As we grow older, our skin gradually loses its elasticity and becomes less oily. Makeup artists advise against using powder foundation for those with mature or textured skin, as it can settle into fine lines and wrinkles, making them more visible. Instead, they suggest opting for hydrating cream or serum foundations to achieve a softer, glowing, and healthier appearance.
We consulted with makeup artists and scoured social media to identify four top-recommended products favored by mature beauty influencers. We also reached out to professional MUAs and beauty experts to gather insights on these foundations and to discover additional tips for attaining a radiant, dewy, and well-hydrated makeup look. Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from celebrity makeup artist Margina Dennis.
4 Hydrating Foundations For A Natural Finish Over 40 This Summer
1. Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Waterproof Foundation ($52)
Laura Mercier’s weightless foundation masterfully merges makeup with your skin, offering medium-buildable coverage, waterproof resilience, and up to 12 hours of fade-resistant wear. Available in 31 diverse shades, it caters to a wide range of skin tones.
The product not only provides essential hydration for individuals with naturally dry skin but also fortifies the skin's protective barrier. Dennis suggests pairing it with the brand's Secret Camouflage Concealer, priced at $39.
This color-correcting item boasts more pigment than typical formulas, ensuring long-lasting and complete coverage. It effectively hides blemishes, shadows, scars, capillaries, discolorations, redness, and age spots, providing an impeccable finish.
2. Kryolan Dermacolor Camouflage Creme Palette ($44.50)
Dennis endorses this intensely pigmented makeup, crafted to conceal skin imperfections, discolorations, and fine lines. Dermacolor Camouflage Creme is particularly ideal for use on the face and neck.
The brand claims it endures even under harsh conditions such as swimming, heat, and physical exertion. Available in a wide variety of shades that can be blended together, this makeup achieves a natural look when properly applied. Additionally, the palettes can be replenished individually with Dermacolor Refills.
When it comes to dark and aging spots, Dennis says that many of them are "different hues of brown, so you need a salmon or cool orange color corrector to neutralize them."
Neutralizing them will keep them from "looking grey under the foundation and also eliminate the need to wear a full-coverage foundation," she advises.
3. Revlon Illuminance Skin-Caring Foundation ($17.99)
The Revlon Illuminance Foundation is the go-to choice for Kimberly Montgomery, a makeup artist, beauty guru, and the face behind the popular YouTube channel, Pretty Over Fifty. She praises its dewy finish and the radiant glow it imparts.
This foundation is particularly suited for mature skin that tends to be dry, thanks to its inclusion of 5% squalene and hyaluronic acid, effectively merging the realms of makeup and skincare. Enriched with botanicals that combat free radicals, it not only provides coverage but also hydrates and moisturizes your skin instead of clogging pores.
Available in 28 diverse shades, Revlon further assists in finding your perfect match through an online quiz tailored to identify your ideal foundation and concealer.
4. MAC Studio Radiance Face And Body Radiant Sheer Foundation ($44)
When it comes to makeup tips and hacks, YouTube tutorials are a treasure trove of valuable solutions and techniques for all of us, especially those seeking advice on foundation for mature beauties over 40. A popular creator and makeup artist, Risa Flashner, presented an engaging and enlightening video demonstrating how to combine a concealer and foundation together to create a hydrating, smooth and less textured foundation look overall.
This mixing hack, she noted, can be done with the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer ($31) and this MAC Studio Radiance Face And Body Radiant Sheer Foundation. “With this hack, you are able to get variable amounts of coverage with just one foundation,” she explained.
She also stressed that it looks “beautiful on mature skin,” while also appearing “natural and never heavy” or cakey. “It’s not going to settle into fine lines or even deep lines on the face,” she added.
The Bottom Line
Most people apply "way too much foundation than they really need to get their desired look," Dennis concludes, regarding mature beauties over 40. "The best way to apply foundation is to start with a penny-sized amount and apply to the center of the face and then blend out to the hairline and jawline," she advises. She then instructs to "apply more when you need additional coverage, as your foundation will last longer and will look fresher."
Another mistake that some make with foundation is "not matching their facial shade to the rest of their body," Dennis continues. "They can look like a floating head because of the disconnect from the face and the body," she warns. The solution is to "match your foundation to your neck, or if your body possesses a drastically a different color, to then match to it to your body and blend the foundation onto the neck."
"I like to take 3 shades; warm, cool and neutral, and put them along my jawline and then blend them to see which one melts into the skin," Dennis notes. She adds that the one that "disappears the most is the match." The more you know!
